Video - Improving Smith & Wesson's Model 325

[duelist1954]

I recently picked up a .45 ACP and made the same discovery quite a few other people have made. It is difficult to shoot in DA mode with normal sized hands. This two-part video series shows exactly what the problem is, and how to fix it.

Part 1 shows a range session with the as-is model 325, and Part 2 also shows a range session with the improved revolver.

Part 1 - The problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuEwBZxmCeg

Part 2 - The solution

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFY5W53oeDM

 

[Quoheleth]

Nice.

In #2, I would have liked to have watched you do the detail work of actually taking out and then replacing the trigger return spring to see how you do it.

Would you think that spring replacement would also help a full-size 25-5?

Q

 

[MrBorland]

I agree N-frames & covered backstraps are a tough combo (an action job & open backstrap are musts on my USPSA 625), but the problem's compounded by your Weaver-type stance, IMO. In this stance, the gun's more or less directly in line with your strong arm, and allows for the least amount of trigger placement. In contrast, the gun & arm aren't in-line in an isosceles stance, and allows for more trigger placement.

(And I'll pre-emptively point out that while you might hear greats such as Miculek & Jarrett insist the gun must be in-line with the arm, when you actually watch them shoot, they adopt an isosceles stance, and the gun's most definitely not in-line with their arm.)

 

[duelist1954]

Quoheleth, sorry I didn't have that on film. You just pivot the spring housing up while using something like a small screwdriver to keep tension on the spring so it doesn't fly out. To put the spring back in I just push it into the housing and tension it back far enough with a small screwdriver to drop the housing back down over the pin. If you try it you'll see it is very easy and natural.

I changed the springs out on my original 1917. If I had a 6-25 I think I'd change the springs...at least the trigger return spring.

MrBorland, I appreciate the feedback, but I'm an old dog who's been shooting from the Weaver stance for 40 years. I'm not going to learn any new tricks now.

 

[Walkalong]

Better to go slightly lower in trigger return strength than the hammer spring IMHO. Do not go too low because we want good trigger return. For a defensive gun we want a good hard hammer strike. JMHO.

I really like those sights.